pyramid
/ˈpɪrəmɪd/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
pyramis — a pyramid-shaped cake made of roasted wheat and honey
Overview
Meaning Now
- A monumental structure with a square or triangular base and sloping sides that meet in a point at the top.
- A solid geometric object with a polygonal base and triangular sides that meet at a common vertex.
Literal older meaning
wheat cake or fire-shaped object
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
piramis
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term was applied by the Greeks to the monumental tombs of Egypt due to their shape, which resembled a common type of conical or pointed wheat-flour cake consumed in the ancient world.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
pyramis
“a wheat cake or pyramid-shaped structure”
Possibly derived from Egyptian terminology or Greek 'pyros' (wheat).
- Late Latin
pyramis
“geometric or architectural pyramid”
- Middle French
piramide
“monumental structure”
- Early Modern English
pyramid
“monumental structure”
Spelling standardized in English.
Connections
Related across languages
French
pyramide
pyramid
German
Pyramide
pyramid
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.